MLB Prospect Watch

Pirates Aquire INF Navarro for Pounders

Yamaico Navarro, who was sent to the Kansas City Royals by the Royals this past season in exchance for Mike Aviles, has been traded again, this time to the Pittsburgh Pirates.  In exchange for the 24-year-old infielder, the Pirates will send prospects Brooks Pounders and Diego Goris to Kansas City, reports Jenifer Langosch of MLB.com.

Navarro, traded to the Royals by the Red Sox at last year's trade deadline, has hit just .206 between the two organizations over the past two years, but was rated as the Red Sox No. 9 prospect in 2009 by Baseball America, who projected him as the team's shortstop of the future.  

At the time of the trade, Baseball America said about him:

"Navarro controls the strike zone reasonably well and has tremendous bat speed, so he has the ability to hit for solid average with as many as 15-20 homers per season. His strong arm is his best defensive tool, and he also shows some quickness and soft hands. His effort and conditioning waver at times, though he has gotten more consistent in those regards in recent seasons. Aviles may be better prepared to help the Red Sox today, but Navarro has more long-term potential."

The Royals had no place to give Navarro regular playing time in 2012, with Johnny Giavotella, Alcides Escobar and Mike Moustakas firmly entrenched at second base, short stop, and third base, respectively.  In exchange, they got two prospects.

Pounders was a second-round pick in (with a first-round name) taken by the Pirates in 2009.  Despite being 6'4" 255 lbs, Pounders' fastball topped out in the low-90s coming out of high school, but was noted for having advanced secondary stuff and a feel for four pitches.  Despite a lack of power stuff, however, the Pirates have already converted Pounders to a reliever.  It remains to be seen what the Royals will do with him.

Goris is a 20-year-old INF who has played primarily short stop and has spent all four of his professional seasons in the Dominican Summer League, having yet to play domestically.  He has hit .302 during his four years, showing little power or ability to draw walks, but not striking out frequently either.  

Prospect Action - Miller, Taillon, Harper, Melville

• Eric Surkamp fanned 10 batters in six innings of work and picked up his first Double-A win, notes Ashley Marshall of MiLB.com.  That wasn't all the good news for the Giants, as Brandon Belt roped four more hits and appears to have his stroke back after struggling in the majors to start the season, says Robert Emrich of MiLB.com.
• Also fanning 10 over six innings was Cardinals prospect Shelby Miller, reports Josh Jackson of MiLB.com.
• Joining the 10-strikeout parade was Barret Loux of the Rangers, who completed the feat in 5 2/3 innings of work, says Ashley Marshall of MiLB.com.
• Alex Liddi hit a 3-run home run for the Mariners Triple-A affiliate in Tacoma, reports The Seattle Times.
• Jameson Taillon got to have an entire start in his second career trip to the mound, notes John Parker of MiLB.com, as the Pirates top prospect struck out six hitters over four scoreless innings.
• Bryce Harper had a perfect day at the plate, says Danny Wild of MiLB.com, as the Nats top prospect went 3-for-3 with two walks.
• In other prospect action...
  • Red Sox INF prospect Yamico Navarro homered twice on Monday, while playing the outfield.  Navarro's teammates beat up on Tigers pitching prospect Charlie Furbush, who surrendered five earned runs and got through just an inning and two-thirds.
  • White Sox SS prospect Eduardo Escobar, whose stock shot up in the Arizona Fall League this past year, homered twice on Monday as well.
  • Royals pitching prospect Tim Melville got hit around again in his latest start, giving up 11 hits in just four innings of work, and raising his ERA to 5.33 on the season.

 

Winter League Update - 11/10

Arizona Fall League

• Blue Jays pitching prospect Mark Rzepczynski tossed six shutout innings, striking out eight hitters as the Javelinas dropped the Rafters 8-5.
• It was a huge night for Nationals prospects as the Scorpions 11-1 victory was led by Derek Norris, who was 3-for-6 with a home run, Bryce Harper, who went 2-for-5 with two triples, and pitcher Sammy Solis on the mound, who threw five strong innings, giving up just one run and getting the win.  Brandon Belt also contributed with three hits, including a double and a triple, to raise his AFL batting average to .388.
• Michael Taylor's 4-hit, 4-RBI day was enough run support for the Desert Dogs, who got four scoreless innings from Manny Banuelos despite the Yankees pitcher walking four batters.

Dominican Winter League

• Red Sox prospect Yamaico Navarro homered for the second time in as many days to lead his Tigres team to a 3-1 victory.

Venezuelan Winter League

• David Cooper has seen action this week with the Bravos de Margarita, but the Blue Jays first base prospect is off to a slow start.
• Alex Liddi posted a 4-for-5 night with a triple and a home run in the Cardenales 9-3 victory.
• Two hits and an RBI by Mark Trumbo weren't enough to overcome five shutout innings by Austin Bibens-Dirkx, who earned his second win of the VWL season.

Puerto Rican Winter League

• Dee Gordon reached base three times and stole a base, but it wasn't enough offense as his Gigantes fell 5-4 to the Criollos on Wednesday.
• More good news for Nationals prospects, as Danny Espinosa reached base three times and had two extra-base hits and Chris Marrero drove in four runs to help lead the Leones to a 9-3 victory.

 

 

Winter League Recap - 11/9

Arizona Fall League

• Dan Merklinger earned his first AFL win of the fall, tossing three scoreless innings and getting run support from Michael Taylor and Kyle Skipworth, who both doubled in the Desert Dogs three-run fifth inning.
• Andrew Lambo hit a walk-off grand slam to cap a 6-run bottom of the ninth comeback for the Solar Sox.  Jeremy Jeffress was pulled two batters before the slam, but he was charged with four of the six runs in the inning, failing to record an out in the four batters he faced.
• The Saguaros scored three runs in the top of the ninth inning to go up 6-4 and take the lead for good, behind three straight hits from the top of their order - Ben Revere, Eduardo Escobar, and Leslie Anderson.  Dustin Ackley reached base three more times in the loss.

Venezuelan Winter League

• Rays pitching prospect Alexander Torres threw five shutout innings to earn his first VWL win of the winter, striking out 11 batters in the process.
• Wilson Ramos wend 2-for-4 with a home run to help propel his Tigres team to a 6-0 victory.

Dominican Winter League

• Fernando Abad gave up one earned run over four innings of work on Tuesday , striking out three.
• Josh Reddick drove in three of the Gigantes eight runs to help lead them to an 8-5 victory.  Fellow Red Sox prospect Yamaico Navarro hit a two-run home run in the loss.

 

 

Winter League Weekend Recap

Arizona Fall League

• The Solar Sox won 13-5 behind a homer and five RBIs by Mets prospect Josh Satin.
• Dustin Ackley led the Javelinas offensive attack, going 3-for-5 with two doubles and three runs scored.  He also stole a base, which Danny Wild of MLB.com says is something the Mariners want him to focus on this fall.
• Josh Collmenter earned his third win of the AFL season as the Diamondbacks prospect tossed five shutout innings, striking out eight.  Bryce Harper went 1-for-4 with a walk and two strikeouts in the game.

Venezuelan Winter League

• Wilson Ramos put together three straight 1-for-4 games and has now hit safely in all six of his VWL appearances.
• Henry Rodriguez recorded his first save of the VWL season and has now thrown 4 2/3 scoreless innings in his last five appearances after giving up two runs in his first appearance.

Puerto Rican Winter League

• After a torrid start, Dee Gordon has gone hitless in his last three games, but is still hitting .450 this winter.

Dominican Winter League

• Josh Reddick's struggles this winter continue, as the Red Sox outfield prospect put up another pair of 0-for-4's this weekend.  Fellow Sox prospect Yamaico Navarro had the same result in his weekend of action.